Llanelli Warriors 41 Saracens Brave Herts 17 (match 115)

Pre match hype

A bit of coverage from the Llanelli Star (top) and Western Mail

links to the same articles on line lower down somewhere

The Warriors welcomed the Saracens Brave Herts on the weekend of the England - Wales international. The Saracens are the 1st English Challenge rugby side, indeed the 1st such side outside of Wales in the northern hemishpere. As well as the match they had a quick tour of Stradey Park and watched the inter district finals as the guests of Llanelli & District Rugby Union. After the match both teams and supporters watched the international in the Cambrian amongst the usual banter and traditional cawl. For such a great occasion we again turned to the very wonderful Tim Reilly for the photos below (except the crap ones which we took ourseleves)

The Saracens Brave Herts

Warriors and Saracens combined
'lets go to work'-The Warriors get ready
Back in black for the Saracens
nervous fag for Chairman Dai
and we're off- Andrew John quickly into the running
Juice looking for support
Jayseabee gets tackled
but off loads
to Chris Sp
Jumpin takes the ball
saracens almost get away
JCB holds Mark Lewis for Rowlands to arrive
Juice round
and Dai Posh scores
strolling through
Killer adds the conversion
Tony Reed rises in the lineout
takes good ball
and the Brave Herts drive it on
The Shed doctored scoreboard (Shed still thinks it's a 4 point try)
chaos
Mat breaks away to score the saracens 1st points
Dobbin the ref eventually arrives
Mat chuffed
double tackle from the Warriors
try to hold the ball up
but Saracens get to ground
The black pack
In the shadow of the posts
Lee 'the mole' Rowlands breaks out of defence

and gets a good pass in
too fast for Tony
Chris takes it on again
plenty of support
RUCK!
saracens steal the ball
and it becomes a pile up
saracens attack from deep
Simon 'Tarw' Jenkins
Andrew 'hands on hips' John
james is ok on the wing
Tarw picks up
neat 8 - 9
and the Warriors are off
Right, where the ball
Tony takes
and spins it away
spot the ball
Warriors lineout
In come the men in black
ariel battle
saracens win it
and away it goes
Dai Posh uses 'the force' to control the ball
Chris 'y cysgod' Bonar goes off on a run
Ahh ti'n dost bach
Colin chuffed cos he might get on
Wheredidhetakher hits a conversion
Kerney has to concentrate to play scrum half
Juice gets another
Jenkins lines up another

might be Jenkins but he's no Neil!
Coach doesn't look too worried
Brave Herts chase the kick off
Tarw runs it back
onto JCB Davies
then Andrew
goes off on a little run
a very little run
Tony steals the ball
but Rich Hapus gets in the tackle
in come the Warriors
double knock on - Black ball
set scrum for the Saracens Deano stsops No8 but the balls away
Saracens going forward
Vincent - no doubt about to ask a question
saracens attacking line out
daley delivers
heads down - see you at the end
HEAVE!
use or lose
Chris Johnston - well balanced
bang! another good kick he's obviously Welsh
Lee's bad knee (poor dab)
Tony leaps like a salomon in the line out
got it
very secure ball
asks for support
On comes the drive
pick up and drive
the Warriors all rush to help



oh get in there Killer Andrew on the hoof
gets away
Tony Reed catches Tony Whittaker
stalemate
Paul with Dai Posh in good support
results in Tarw getting a try
Lee star struck that Tina Turner (or is it Bonnie Tyler) has turned up
Andrew rucking like a girl
while Parker holds onto the ball!
clearnace from 9
half time break
full back takes the score to heart
and Olly

Roger rallies the troops
hanging on his every word (he must be talking about the pub)
Evidence of a spy in the camp??

Second Half...

Neil Parker: done enough-time for a fag

Simon-nice action but no points

...back at the coal face
Chris Johnston well protected
saracens on the charge
another scrum
Simon & Meredith ready
Bonar a fine performance for his 60th 'cap'
Stuart Daley watches his throw
Simon about to pull another kick accross the posts
Deano passing!!
Juice passing!!!!
James faints with shock
Andrew chases a kick
Sarries clear
Attack from the back
found some space
But not too much
McCann takes on the Warriors defence
Chrisp hits the turbo
The packs are keen as ever to get on with it

Johnston about to fire out another pass
Mat backs his pace
past Chris, Dean and Meredith
but not Rowlands
Juice on a run
Tony Lewis secures more ball for the Brave Herts
Full throttle
takes in Deano and Juice
watch yer ankle
enter the Mole

falling on the fallen
crunch!
Well at least Andrew clapped
Louie gets in the way of the sympathy photo
Morriston Hospital this way
Deano on form

Sarries man of the match Ollie McCann on another charge
Chris Bonar gets to the bottom of things
Bonar - bad finger
Saracens end the game on the attack

A small preview from the Western Mail is on their site HERE with a massive apology to the Swansea Gladiators who introduced the concept of rugby for people with learning difficulties to Llanelli and even they were preceeded by the Bridgend team. The Llanelli Star/Evening Post preview appears HERE on their web site. from the other side of the Bridge, Hertfordshire provide THIS and we get a mention in the Watford Observer HERE

It may take some time to finalise the report and certainly the photos. This section will concentrate on the match whilst the after match photos will be HERE or on the 'team proflies' section. The report is updated from that which was sent to the press which creditied Simon with one of Jonathan juice's tries. The Saracens version will be linked once I have it.

Llanelli Warriors 41 Saracens Brave Herts 17

The Warriors upheld Welsh pride on the weekend when they managed to triumph over the Saracen Brave Herts to secure the CMG cup.
As the 1st ‘Challenge’ rugby side to set up in England (including players with learning difficulties) the Saracens were at a distinct disadvantage to the Warriors. This was just their 2nd ever match whilst the Llanelli team had over 10 years of experience behind them. The Saracens belied this however and in the opening exchanges the teams seemed evenly matched.
It was eventually the Warriors who gelled quickest though, Jonathan Jones and impressive center Neil Parker worked well together and eventually found some gaps in the English defence.
Prop David Edwards was the 1st to benefit when he rounded of a move and then Jones scored himself from a similar attack. The Warriors seemed to be cruising at this stage, comfortably moving the ball amongst the backs but the Saracens had other ideas. They stepped up their defence and got their just rewards when a quick turnover resulted in center Mat Smith streaking away for a try underneath the posts. Bouyed by this success the Saracens came back into the match with Barry Kyshenia and Tim Bonfield to the fore. They were unlucky however to come up against a Warriors side on a day when the whole team performed. Wings Whittaker and Howells looked dangerous every time they touched the ball whilst the pack were effective in attack and defence. The Llanelli team went further in front when the backs cut through again with No8 Simon Jenkins crossing after more good play from the backs and then Jones got a second.
In the second half the Saracens found their strength was up front. Under the leadership of Tony Reed they drove effectively up the field. Oliver McCann was the pick of their forwards, making good yards and inspiring the likes of David Dobson and Lee Corley.
A classic battle of a strong pack against fast backs ensued and the Warriors were pleased to already have a decent lead. The defence worked hard though. Jon Kerr had his best game in a Warriors shirt with some significant tackles and John Horwood, Richard Evans and David Edwards were also prominent.
The Warriors extended their lead through hooker Chris Spriggs and Kerr as they managed to make the most of their opportunities. The Saracens deservedly had the last word though. With Stuart Daley and Mark Lewis winning line outs to secure possession they camped in the Warriors 22. Initially frustrated Vince Granville-Mathews broke the red line when he found the smallest of gaps and used every inch of the touch line to thread his way over. The visitors weren’t finished though. Another driving maul looked likely to result in a forwards try until the ball bobbled free only for alert scrum half Chris Johnston to pounce on it and scamper over before anyone had even realised the danger. He also added the conversion to complete a skilful performance.
A quality match, the Warriors were deserved winners of the 1st CMG cup with their best showing of the season. The Saracens however showed a maturity that belied their newly formed status and the Warriors know they will have a battle on their hands to defend the cup away in April. The Saracens had plenty of positives to take from a great rugby weekend and the venture must be regarded as a huge success.

Warriors: Jonathan Kearny, James Howells (Meredith Pugh), Andrew John, Neil Parker, Tony Whittaker, Jon Jones, Lee Rowlands (Dean Gilasbey), Chris Bonar (Richard Evans), Chris Spriggs, David Edwards (Colin Talcon), John Horwood, Roger Thomas (Cpt), Jon Kerr, Simon Jenkins, Paul Davies.

Tries: Simon Jenkins, Jon Jones (2), Neil Parker, David Edwards, Jon Kerr

Conversions: Tony Whittaker, Jon Kerr (2)

Man of the match: Simon Jenkins (Warriors) Olly McCann (Brave Herts)

As the report suggests, the Warriors put in one of their best displays and Jon Kerr in particular was unlucky not to be picked as man of the match for the Warriors. Chris Bonar had a good match on his 60th apperance and Meredith Pugh also went well. The Warriors though were very impressed with the Saracen Brave Herts. In only their second game they showed plenty of endevour and no little skill. the likes of Olly, Simon, Barry and Chris all had excellent matches. It took the Warriors 2 seasons to play 3 games, 3 seasons to play non intergrated opposition 5 to go on tour and 11 to host a touring team. All marks the saracens are ste to better in their 1st season. They impressed everyone with their conduct and apperance as well of the field. The day was helped by a good crowd at the game and afterwards in the Cambrian. Thanks to everyone who supported this venture, especially the variuos sponsors: WRW, CMG and how-tech.

Please check out the after match photos HERE and another review from the Watford Observer HERE and finally a quick mention to Wizard of the scarletfever website who was the 1st to mention that the date on the programme is wrong.